FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Jaylen Fisher brings plenty of energy to the court for No. 24 TCU. Alex Robinson and his teammates wanted to make sure they didn’t miss a beat without their injured point guard.
Vladimir Brodziansky had 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting, Robinson set a school record with 17 assists and the Horned Frogs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 96-73 win over Iowa State on Wednesday night in their first game without Fisher.
JD Miller added 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting with five 3-pointers for TCU (14-4, 2-4 Big 12), which shot 60 percent from the field and never trailed. Kouat Noi scored 16 points and Kenrich Williams had his eighth double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“Obviously something we needed,” coach Jamie Dixon. “We’ve had a lot of things going on.”
Fisher was scheduled to have surgery Thursday. The sophomore guard missed the team’s trip to Australia in August after tearing meniscus in his left knee during practice then, but was back for the start of the season after surgery.
“He was disappointed, obviously, with the injury and he knew what it was pretty early,” Dixon said.
Dixon called Fisher before the game to offer him some encouragement, and wasn’t sure the guard would be there. But Fisher, his knee locked up and needing to use crutches, showed up soon after tipoff and sat in a chair near the TCU bench.
Donovan Jackson had 19 points for Iowa State (10-6, 1-5). Freshmen Cameron Lard and Lindell Wigginton each had 16.
TCU jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the game’s first 5 minutes, and led by as many as 17 in the first half.
“We just got our butts kicked,” Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said. “Just got absolutely punched in the face, didn’t respond. … It’s ridiculous.”
BIG PICTURE
Iowa St.: Even while they shot 51 percent from the field (30 of 59), the Cyclones couldn’t gain any momentum coming off their first Big 12 victory Saturday against Baylor.
“We’ve got to get an identity,” Prohm said. “When people watch our teams play, they know what they should look like: tough, competitive, resilient, in synch, in synergy. This was bad, man.”
TCU: After so many close games, including consecutive overtime losses on the road last week, the Frogs finally had a game in which they didn’t have to press in the closing minutes. Their four Big 12 losses are by a combined 11 points, and their only previous conference win was by three points in overtime.
LOT OF HELPERS, FEW TURNOVERS
Robinson had only one turnover in 38 minutes while setting the school record for assists, setting up baskets for five different teammates. Seven of Brodziansky’s baskets come off passes from Robinson. The Frogs finished with 29 assists and a season-low four turnovers. It was their ninth straight game with 13 turnovers or less.
PERFECT INSIDE THE ARC
Brodziansky shot 11 of 13 for his third 20-point game in five games. He made all 11 of his shots inside the arc, and was 0-for-2 on 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
Iowa St.: Another ranked opponent for the Cyclones, who host No. 8 Texas Tech on Saturday.
TCU: The Horned Frogs play three of their next four games on the road. They are at Kansas State (13-5, 3-3) on Saturday.
Photo credit – Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press / Fort Worth, TX
